Durham United FC

 With it being ground hop weekend, conveniently for me there was a Sunday evening fixture, Durham United vs Esh Winning 630pm kick off. They play at the excellent Maiden Castle, located in the grounds of Durham University Campus, also home to Durham Women.


We arrived in good time for the fixture and excellently inside the campus building is a Caffè Nero, along with various vending machines, comfortable seating and clean toilets, so we made ourselves at home in there with a sausage sandwich and a tea. The club also set up a makeshift club shop in there which was well stocked with programmes, badges and various knitted accessories. I'd already acquired a pin badge so didn't need to purchase anything. Into the ground was £6 adults and £3 concessions, there was also 'fat Frank's' food cart from which I purchased some lovely chips for £3.50. The ground itself has a covered seated area to one side and then plenty of standing room the rest of the way round. There is a running track around the pitch but unlike other grounds like this you can stand forward of it so it doesn't make any difference to the viewing experience. The pitch is 3G as are many nowadays but it was a very good quality version of one. A nice touch before kick off as a member of the management team for Durham came over from the dugout and thanked us for attending, telling us it means the world as they only normally get 30 or 40 fans. Today the official attendance was an excellent 382, a record crowd for them and by some distance I would think.


Onto the game and it really was must win for Esh who are rooted to the foot of the table. To be honest though they never looked like winning, I had minute 21 on the golden goal but the scoring was opened in the 27th minute, an excellent first time strike from Durham number 9 Phil Kay, who went on to claim his hat trick. Durham doubled their lead in the second half with a shot from out wide that found the bottom corner. Esh battled though and pulled one back, they were showing some urgency and managed to equalise but you always felt they were second best. Durham upped the anti and scored another two to tie the game up, also bringing the physio on to sit in front of the back four and bark instructions at the younger players. 


Full time and the bumper crowd soon filtered out into the excellent car park which was also really easy to get out of. 3 miles back to the motorway, this trip really was a piece of cake.


https://buymeacoffee.com/davidgroundhopper


























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Brackley Town FC

Image
 One of only two national league clubs I've not visited, the other being Boston. A rare trip to see my team in action, York City, with us being in good form too I was buoyant pre match. I arrived in Brackley far too early, on the plus side the turnstiles open at St James Park (there 3rd one I've visited after Newcastle and Exeter) at midday, so at least I had shelter from the horrific weather conditions, swirling torrential rain and an ice cold wind. On the downside, due to the game being segregated we were not allowed the warmth of the bar, but I was under cover and soaking up all the pre match excitement. I'd not seen city play since Solihull away last season. Unfortunately for me, the club shop at Brackley is also in the home end of the ground, however very helpfully I obtained my obligatory pin badge from the ticket office portakabin in the car park, well done for some forward thinking Brackley! Onto the game I'll try and give my unbiased review, city dominated poss...
Read more

Runcorn Linnets FC

Image
 I arrived in Manchester early doors for this one, not entirely sure where I would be going due to games being called off for waterlogged pitched. Had an excellent bacon and egg sandwich from Manchester Arndale Market, a regular stop off of mine. My first choice game was Maine Road vs AFC Blackpool but at 1130 that fell foul of the rain, so I bought my train ticket to Runcorn East and off I went to the Apec Taxi Stadium. Runcorn always resembles a fondness in my mind, due to being the setting for hit comedy of its time Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, however upon arrival at Runcorn East, the walk to the stadium couldn't have been more bleak, I passed nothing at all along the mile long route to the ground other than a sort of private road way for buses which I've never seen before and seems a good idea. When at the ground I was surprised to see a Marstons pub, I went in for a j20 and watched some of the Villa vs Arsenal game to get out of the weather. There is also a ...
Read more

Esh Winning FC

Image
 A midweek journey to the North East, and the secluded ground of Esh Winning FC. Entry through a front door, not a turnstile, straight into the bar, mince pie and chips, good quality pies and sausage rolls on offer, I believe they have a partnership with local butchers and bakery.  A rag tag ground that oozes character, trolley shelters for cover, fake grass along the walk ways, fences and decking that have seen better days and small covered areas at the top of a bank behind the goal. A decent little main stand and a fair pitch with a traditional grass surface.  Entry £5 and £3, easier to get to by car rather than public transport. Check out my pictures and if you enjoy my reviews then buy me a coffee. buymeacoffee.com/davidgroundhopper
Read more